Pennsylvania Reports Fourth Measles-Associated Death This Year

WASHINGTON: (News Desk) – Pennsylvania health authorities have confirmed a fourth measles-associated death as the United States continues to face a major outbreak of the highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health said Tuesday that two additional measles-associated deaths had been confirmed in the state. Both individuals were unvaccinated, bringing the total number of measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania to four in 2026.

Local officials identified the latest victim as an 18-year-old from Mifflin County. The county coroner said the teenager died from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, a rare and severe neurological complication associated with measles.

The two latest deaths came after Pennsylvania reported its first two measles-associated fatalities in 35 years in August. The state health department said those victims were also unvaccinated.

Pennsylvania has recorded 693 confirmed measles cases across 38 counties so far this year, according to the state Department of Health. The department said 133 patients had been hospitalised as of its September 14 update.

At the national level, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3,294 confirmed measles cases across the United States as of September 10, 2026. The agency noted that the figures are preliminary and subject to change.

The outbreak has also triggered a public dispute between Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Shapiro criticised Kennedy over what he described as vaccine scepticism and alleged interference with public-health reporting.

Kennedy rejected the criticism and accused Shapiro of politicising the outbreak, while stating that measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles.

Measles can cause fever, cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and a characteristic rash. Serious complications can include pneumonia and brain inflammation, while some cases can be fatal. Pennsylvania health officials said measles-associated deaths are rare but can occur, particularly among people who lack protection against the virus.

The United States declared measles eliminated in 2000 following decades of widespread vaccination. However, declining vaccination coverage and outbreaks in communities with lower immunisation rates have contributed to a resurgence of the disease in recent years. CDC data show that MMR coverage among US kindergartners fell from 95.2 percent in the 2019–20 school year to 92.4 percent in 2025–26.